New concern for games and the growing mind

In a world where entertainment technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, and where so much technology is marketed to children, it’s easy for parents to get disoriented and anxious. New 3D-based games have caused a new wave of concern. Industry heavyweight Nintendo has added fuel to the fire, cautioning parents on its Japanese-language website that its highly anticipated upcoming 3DS system may not be safe for children under six. The company cites the possibility of harm to developing eyesight to in young children.

Before parents panic too much, it should be noted that this is almost certainly a case of a corporation being admirably cautious. Rather than an established serious threat, the concern is that since 3D movies and games work by essentially fooling the parts of the brain we use to perceive depth, there could possibly be a harmful effect on children who are still in the process of developing those parts of their brains. But as of now, there is no concrete research to back up those claims.

Still, anything that makes parents think hard about their children’s entertainment options is not entirely misguided. You don’t have to be worried about damage to your child’s brain to consider that it might be best to moderate their exposure to movies and gasmes. Never forget-the great outdoors is always in 3D.